Improvement in methods of regulating wind-wheels



UNITED STATEs PATENT EETCE.

WLLIAM D. "ALKER, OF LIVONIA, NPHV YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN METHODS OF REGULATING WIND-WHEELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 27,325, dated February 2S, SGO.

e it known that l, WILLIAM D. WALKER, of Livonia, in the county of Livingston and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in llliiitllVlieels; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to 'the accompanying drawings, in wh ich- 'Figure l. is a general perspective view thereof. Fig. 2 is a detached plan View of the device for regulating the sails. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the end of one of the arms E, in section, showing the ratchet-barkl and plate n. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the head D and portion of the shaft ll, the other parts being broken away.

Similar letters refer to corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention consists in the peculiar devices which I employ for eqnalizin g the speed of the wheel during Variable winds and rendering it controllable to the required rate of motion.

As represented in the drawings, A is the frame-work, and l the vertical shaft on which the sails C are arranged, being situated radially around a central head D, which crowns the shaft. From this head the arms lil extend, and the jointed frame-work of the sails is attached to them fixedly near the head, but adjustably atthe extremity, where the end of the rib c extends through and plays freely in a slot lin the end of each arm. The two intermediate ribs l) l), together with u., are hinged to the next adjoining arm at C, and form, with the jointed front rods (l l and c e, two wings or sections to each sail, which are covered with clot-h, canvas, or other suitable elastic fabric, and which open as their mouthsreceive the wind, forming a funnel-shaped sail, but close together when their motion is toward it.

To regulate the speed of the wheel and keep it equal under the varying influence of the wind, a governing device is attached, consisting ot' the cross-leverf, pivot-ed to and at right angles with the arm l) and carrying on its outer or longest extremity the ball g. From the slotted extremity of E the short arm h extends at right angles, at the end of which a short bar j is pivoted, to which, also, another short har 7 connects it with the ratchetba-r t. At the joint between the pieces] and l is attached the rod ym., which connects them with the leverf. The bar 7i; has a ratchet faced slide n, which plays into the slot fr', the bar itself being pivoted at one end to the arm E, so that it swings outward when the ball g moves toward l[he center of the wheel, or is forced inward when the ball gravitates from the center. The ratchet-teeth are used to form stops or catches for the end of the sailsrod a and hold itin the different positions to produce the required speed.

The operation is as :follows: As the wind expands the sails the rods (t are drawn in nearer the center by their opening, and to prevent their expanding too much the end of the rod is caught by one of the ratchet-teeth, as 'in Fig. 3, and there held till a partial rotation of the wheel brings the point. of the sail to the wind and closes it. vThe movements of the ratchet-bar are governed by the ball y, which is hung in such a way that as the speed ot' the wheel increases the centrifn ugal force carries it outward, which pushes the bar 7.1' in through the intervention of the connecting partsj, l, and m, and brings the ratchetteeth into connection with a, thus preventing the farther expansion of the sail. If the speed is too much diminished, the ball gravitates toward the center agai n an d releases a a notch or two, giving more extent of sail. This is its action as a self-regulator to equalize the speed where the force of the wind varies; but when it is desired to increase or diminish the general rate ot' speed further mechanism is employed, consisting of the cord o, which acts on the opposite end of the erosslever f through the medium of the short swing-lever a-nd spring p (j. lf the cord is drawn upon, it acts against the centrifugal force, throwing the ball back and the ratchet out of gear, thereby allowing the sails to expand. lhe cerd is connected with jointed knee-levers r, Fig. 4, which surround the head l) and connectwith a. sliding spindle s in the centeroi' the shaft B. lly raising this spindle the knees r contract and tighten the cords, holding back the balls until their accumulated centrifugal force becomes sufficient to overcome the force of the spring q, when they again act to close the ratchet and prevent too great an expansion of the sail. l-ly drawing down the spindle .s the cords are relaxed and the balls are left to aetuate the ratchet, as ln'eviously described, and check the speed of the wheel. Rigid rods may be employed in place ot' the cords by dispensing with the parts p q and produce a like result.

The slide n in'the ratchet-bar lhas its end turned so as to hook upon the pivot and a piece of india-rubber or other spring is placed back of it to lform an elastic cushion and destroy the shock occasioned by the sudden striking of a against the ratchet-stops. This gives an easier transition to the change and prevents noise.

The application of the apparatus described to each of the arms E produces a very light yet; powerful and well-regulated wind-wl1eel- I do not claim, broadly,governng Windwlicels by the use of balls or Weights acting by centrifugal force; but

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters .Patent- The combination and arrangement of the balls g, com pound sliding ratchet-bar 7c, handregulator s, i', and o, as described, with the sails C, substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein set forth.

VILLIAM D. \VALKER.

Witnesses:

EDWARD T. WILSON, M. C. FOWLER. 

